Via the Facebook viral pipes my wife stumbled upon this great song by Derek Webb entitled ‘New Law’. (by ‘great‘ I mean more so lyrically than musically)
I’ve been a part of churches that have embraced both of the following ideals.
A legalistic approach where you were told both what you can and can not do.
The non-legalistic approach (compromising as some would say) that is spoken of in the song here.
Let me just say this… It’s MUCH easier to live legalistically! Man by nature wants to be told what to do to achieve a desired end result. When you take away those rules it’s much more difficult to cultivate a relationship with God knowing that we ourselves are responsible for our own salvation (Phil 2:12). But let me add that while it’s harder, it’s also much more fulfilling! When a road-map is not laid out at your feet by man, one has to decide: “why do I do what I do?” As you pursue this question honestly and with an open mind, you’ll find yourself cultivating a real one-on-one relationship with the creator, a relationship without a pastoral proxy. You’ll also find yourself you growing as a Christian much more that when one simply obeys a set of guidelines to achieve an eternal destination. This isn’t to say that we are human islands, a pastor will always have a role in shepherding those who he oversees. I think many churches (and more importantly pastors) don’t know where the line should be drawn between shepherding and legislating.
I’m glad to be a part of a church that is striving to achieve that balance. What do you think?
Derek Webb ‘New Law’ Lyrics
Don’t teach me about politics and government
Just tell me who to vote for
Don’t teach me about truth and beauty
Just label my music
Don’t teach me how to live like a free man
Just give me a new law
I don’t wanna know if the answers aren’t easy
So just bring it down from the mountain to me
I want a new law
I want a new law
Gimme that new law
Don’t teach me about moderation and liberty
I prefer a shot of grape juice
Don’t teach me about loving my enemies
Don’t teach me how to listen to the Spirit
Just give me a new law
What’s the use in trading a law you can never keep
For one you can that cannot get you anything
Do not be afraid
This morning I had the strangest experience. I was in that moment between being asleep and waking up for the day when I had a ‘vision’ so-to-speak. A mini dream lasting just a couple seconds that vividly etched itself into my memory. I saw a ‘folder’ being created (almost like creating a new folder on one’s computer) with today’s date stamped on it. It’s hard to translate the ‘weirdness’ that followed. Almost like the feeling when the character Neo in the movie The Matrix realizes he was nothing more than part of the system.
I sat there for a while just thinking. I’m so very happy right now and I know my life has meaning, but this was just really really weird. A visual representation of a day in my life as nothing more than a folder with a date on it. I thought back to a sermon I’d heard growing up about how our lives are compared to a vapor (James 4:14). That message was preached probably 15+ years ago and yet it seems like just yesterday. And not only did those years fly by, but to know God has every event that happened during those years filed away in ‘folders’ for future reference. The good, the bad and the ugly.
So what do I take from this?
I want what’s kept in todays ‘folder’ to matter. I want every action to count. I want it to be worth remembering. And I DON’T want to regret what’s inside today’s folder wishing that somehow it could be deleted.
Today I reflect on everything I am thankful for in 2008.
God :: He’s blessed my life with so much. He truly is the giver of all good things!
Family :: My wife Brin my two little guys Evan and Tanner and yea I’ll throw our dog Uno in there too.
Extended Family :: I have awesome parents, three great brothers and their families who live nearby. Two of my grandparents passed away this year who lived amazing lives. I’m thankful for the example they’ve given me, they won’t be forgotten.
Friends :: Surrounded by so many wonderful people here in upstate NY.
Home :: Blessed with a nice home in a great location.
Future :: Life is good when you live for God. Knowing that he has it all in control is a comforting thought.
Job :: I work for an amazing company with an amazing group of people.
For those of you involved in church leadership and/or ministry, his video is funny but will make you think too. It poses this question… “What if Starbucks marketed like the church?”
A “conversation” I had on Twitter that got me thinking. The first two lines went like this…
JaredStill: We saw an accident after Church today. Worst I’ve ever seen. 5 people died, including 3 children. so sick over it djByron: @jaredstill I’ve personally witnessed two similar scenarios over the past year or so and know the feeling… All one can do is pray.
The two scenarios I mentioned above included a guy dying right outside my front door in a motorcycle accident and a 15 yr old kid who was critically injured by an oncoming vehicle while riding his bicycle. In both instances I witnessed human suffering like I had never before. This was something new. Something that had never made it’s way inside of my comfortable “bubble”. The screams I heard, the feeling of helplessness, the confusion, and an unrest in my soul that I could never translate to you in words. These will be two days that haunt my thoughts forever. Read the rest of this entry »
I’m really excited to be a part of the 40 Day Fast going on over at InspiredToAction.com. In short, it is a way to bring about awareness to area of need in the world (either a cause or a country) and an organization that strives to meet that need.
Today is the first day of the 40 Day Fast, so check out Brant Hansen’s post “Where God Lives“.
I can honestly say now that having a child really puts God’s love for us in perspective. I’ve heard this most of my life but you can never relate until it actually happens to you. I’ve read the creation story countless times of how he created man to have a free will and of his desire for us to worship Him. I’ve read the stories of His time here on earth and how he died for us. And these are amazing accounts of His love for man. But there’s something about being able to relate to God’s relationship to mankind.
Seeing our little guy get hurt or well up with tears wanting our forgiveness will melt a father’s heart. Being a father gives you special insight into just why God created man. There’s NOTHING like your child showing you love out of free-will. There’s also NOTHING like the paing in having to discipline your child because because you love him/her. And there’s NOTHING like your child running into your arms after that discipline with tear filled eyes telling you he loves you so much.
“Evan, these first three years have flown by! Now that Tanner’s on his way I’m looking back on our first three years together and how wonderful they’ve been. Watching you grow from baby to little boy has been an amazing experience for a father. One that I could never have prepared for, but I wouldn’t change for the world. Each day holds something special and new as you learn the ropes of life. I’m so proud of you! You’re such a polite little guy saying “please”, “thank you” and “no thank you”. You will remind us to pray when we happen to forget (usually at restaurants). You love to dance, sing, play your drums and occasional air guitar. You love being with friends young and old. Just know that your mom and dad love you so very much and we’ll be by your side as you grow, enjoying every minute! – Daddy“
My thoughts based on the opening pages of Pop Goes the Church by Tim Stevens.
In my Christan walk I’ve been a part of many different churches. I grew up in church, attended a Christian college, attended a few more churches (in a few different states) and ended up back here in New York where I started. Of all the churches I’ve attended, the believers I currently associate with are by far the most “connected”. We’re not what you would consider a huge church (thought we’re not small either), we’re in a small town on the other side of a mountain it’s an awesome place to be. I love it because I know that we’re heading in the right direction. Moving away from “religion” and moving into societal relevance. We’ve managed to establish a good reputation within our community and are becoming more and more relevant. We started on this journey in 2001 when God brought us through a series of new “revelations” within the Word and it’s been an exciting time or us. Though we’ve never been overly “religious”, God has corrected our course numerous times over the past seven years to bring us more in like with His vision. Here are a couple of paragraphs within these first few pages that jumped out at me.
From the Foreword:
“We do not worship the church: we worship God. The local church is the vehicle Christ left us to communicate and share our love for God. When the traditions of the church become supreme, God will seem very irrelevant to people, both inside and outside the walls of the church. As I’ve often said, the tendency of any church is to always look inward and become navel gazers. And when we bend over into our holy huddle, guess what the rest of the world sees. You got it! If we do not look outward intentionally and strategically to engage and become change agents in our culture, we will become self-obsessed and wrapped up in meaningless tradition. That is neither attractive nor helpful for a world looking or real answers to the real problems it faces in this new millennium.” – Ed Young (Foreword, Pop Goes the Church)
From the Introduction:
“I love the way John 1:14 is written in The Message. It says Christ “became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.” He came to us – met us where we were. In Jesus’ case, the neighborhood was a rural, agricultural society in first century Palestine. He immersed himself in that culture. He wore the clothes, used the language, and illustrated his stories with the signs and symbols of the day to communicate the Gospel of an upside down king om here on earth.
He didn’t wear God-clothes, speak God-words, and expect the culture to connect. he didn’t spend years learning big words so he could impress but not communicate. he didn’t look for music that was unfamiliar to the culture and expect people to learn to like it.
Jesus spent his time with real people such as Peter, James and John, the blue-collar workers; Martha, the over-extended homemaker; Matthew, the IRS agent; and Simon, the political activist. He watched the popular culture of his day and wove it into his teaching. Jesus identified the needs of the people around him and started there as he taught” – Tim Stevens (Introduction, Pop Goes The Church)
And one very interesting question was posed:
“Would your community be any different if your church disappeared tomorrow? Have you ever asked yourself this question? If your church suddenly disappeared, could the community even recover? Or would they go on as though nothing at all had changed?” - Tim Stevens (Introduction, Pop Goes The Church)
My answer to this question? I know that there are people that would definitely take notice if we closed our doors but there’s still work to be done!
Click here to buy the book from Amazon and follow along!
My copy of Pop Goes the Church came yesterday from Amazon. I’ll post my thoughts as I read through it.
Stay tuned…
“Whether you’re a regular attendee, a leader, or have yet to step foot in a church, you may have questions about church that aren’t being answered, How can the church remain relevant while communicating the unchanging integrity of God’s truth?
Author Tim Stevens makes an inspiring case for leveraging pop culture to reach out to people in the language of their lives. He offers a new perspective that gives relevance and impact to the church by using popular culture‚Äîmeeting people in the real world with words, sounds and images that speak to them. He encourages us to get out of our comfort zones and look people in the eyes, meeting them wherever they are, relating to their problems and society’s challenges‚Äîeven celebrating pop culture, where there are exciting signs of spiritual seeking.
Pop Goes the Church will open your mind to church in a way that breaks down walls, engages the culture and speaks to a generation that needs to hear the good news.”
![djByron [Dan Byron] Rss](http://www.danbyron.com/wp-content/themes/GreyMagic/images/rss.gif)
Let me just say this… It’s MUCH easier to live legalistically! Man by nature wants to be told what to do to achieve a desired end result. When you take away those rules it’s much more difficult to cultivate a relationship with God knowing that we ourselves are responsible for our own salvation (Phil 2:12). But let me add that while it’s harder, it’s also much more fulfilling! When a road-map is not laid out at your feet by man, one has to decide: “why do I do what I do?” As you pursue this question honestly and with an open mind, you’ll find yourself cultivating a real one-on-one relationship with the creator, a relationship without a pastoral proxy. You’ll also find yourself you growing as a Christian much more that when one simply obeys a set of guidelines to achieve an eternal destination. This isn’t to say that we are human islands, a pastor will always have a role in shepherding those who he oversees. I think many churches (and more importantly pastors) don’t know where the line should be drawn between shepherding and legislating.
